Flying ants, scientifically known as alates, are the winged, reproductive members of an ant colony that temporarily take to the air. Alates are often mistaken for flying termites, but they have a distinctly pinched waist, bent antennae, and front wings longer than their hind wings, unlike the straight-bodied termite swarmers. Understanding what attracts these ants is the first step in managing their presence, as their flight marks a critical stage in their life cycle.
Understanding the Swarming Behavior
The mass emergence of flying ants is a highly synchronized event called a nuptial flight, which is the sole purpose of their winged form. During this brief time, virgin queens and males leave their nests to mate mid-air with individuals from other colonies. This dispersal maximizes genetic diversity and reduces inbreeding across the local ant population.
The timing of this swarming is heavily influenced by specific weather conditions, usually occurring during warm, humid weather after a period of rain. High humidity is thought to be necessary for the new queens to survive the initial stages of establishing their nests underground. Most swarming takes place in late spring or summer, with certain species flying in the early fall. The male alates die shortly after mating, while the fertilized queens shed their wings to seek a suitable location to found a new colony.
Environmental Factors That Draw Them In
One of the most noticeable attractants for flying ants is artificial light, a phenomenon known as positive phototaxis. At night, alates are strongly drawn toward sources of illumination, such as porch lights, street lamps, and indoor fixtures. This attraction can inadvertently guide them toward homes and commercial buildings, where they may enter through small cracks and openings.
Moisture and humidity are significant environmental factors that draw alates. New queens need damp soil or wood to successfully excavate and begin their first nest chambers. Areas with poor drainage, leaky pipes, or water-damaged wood near a building’s foundation become highly attractive to these reproductive ants. For species like carpenter ants, the presence of soft, water-saturated wood is a major attractant, as it provides an easy medium for them to bore out nesting galleries.
Resource and Chemical Attractions
Flying ants are still drawn to the same sustenance as their wingless counterparts. They are omnivorous and attracted to readily available food resources, including sugary substances like spilled drinks and honeydew, as well as protein-rich items and fats. Outdoor garbage cans, pet food bowls, and uncleaned outdoor surfaces become appealing targets for these insects.
Chemical signals, or pheromones, play a major role in their attraction. During the nuptial flight, new queens release attraction pheromones to signal their presence and draw in the male drones for mating. The existence of an established, hidden ant colony can also attract new alates, as worker ants lay down trail pheromones that signal a suitable area for a new queen to establish a satellite nest nearby.
Practical Methods for Exclusion and Deterrence
Managing the presence of flying ants involves addressing the attractants that draw them near or into a structure.
Light Management
To counter their attraction to light, it is effective to switch exterior lighting to yellow or sodium vapor bulbs, which emit wavelengths less attractive to insects. Turning off non-essential outdoor lights during peak swarming hours, typically at dusk, also reduces the likelihood of them congregating near the home.
Moisture Control
Controlling moisture is a highly effective deterrent, as it targets the new queen’s ability to establish a colony. Homeowners should fix any plumbing leaks, ensure gutters are clear, and improve ventilation in crawl spaces to reduce damp conditions. Addressing water-damaged wood is particularly important, as repairing or replacing it removes an ideal nesting site for species such as carpenter ants.
Sanitation and Exclusion
For resource-related deterrence, sanitation is paramount to eliminate food sources. This involves regularly cleaning kitchen surfaces, storing all food in airtight containers, and securing outdoor garbage bins with tight-fitting lids. To prevent entry, sealing potential access points is necessary; cracks in the foundation, gaps around windows and doors, and utility entry points should be caulked or weather-stripped.